the upmost confidence in you and have felt for quite some time for you to give up the “assistant” role despite your arguments. So while she’s gone, you will take over her clientele and continue on with the projects.”
Felicia knew she had to have looked like a fish out of water the way her mouth kept opening and closing. Felicia finally found her tongue and she started to voice her objectives when Rich cut her off.
“Ah ah ahhhh, I don’t want to hear it! It is done. Tom and I agreed, so it is so. Couldn’t have happened at a better time really Jenna the new hire will fill in as your assistant.” He told her while giving her cheek a pat. “Make it a great day cookie!” and with that Rich was off to secure more well-to-do clients…or whatever it was that he did.
Felicia walked into her and Saroya’s funky, hip office that was decorated with a lot of bold colors and dark wood. Walking to her desk, as she began to sit she heard a knock from the doorway. Looking up she could only assume the cute little pixie chick standing in the doorway was her, well rather the office’s new assistant Jenna.
“Hi. I’m Jenna. Rich told me I was to report here to you?”
“Hello Jenna. Yes from what I understand you and I will be working together while Saroya is out of the office.”
Felicia saw a spark alight in Jenna’s eye and it appeared that the girl was holding back. But Felicia discounted it to nerves.
“I will just grab my things and make some room for you. Have you had your morning coffee?”
“No not yet. I usually stop on the way to work, but didn’t want to chance running late.” Jenna replied warmly.
“Well it’s a good thing you didn’t stop and pay when you have great free gourmet coffee at your fingertips. Go on and grab yourself a cup and by time you get through the line, I should be set to get you started.”
“Okay. Would you like a cup also or anything to eat?” Jenna’s question threw Felicia as she was so used to seeing to others needs.
“Uh sure, I’ll take a small cup of the vanilla biscotti.”
“Great. I’ll be right back!” And with that, Jenna was off and Felicia found herself outside of her normal routine and out of sorts.
Chapter Six
Felicia and Jenna spent the morning getting themselves situated in their temporary spaces. Saroya and Felicia’s office setup was one envied by a lot of other designers in the firm. The others thought they were getting the best spaces by skipping over the office that was chopped up by a wall. But not Saroya, who at the time was the newest designer to the firm. Felicia’s area was arranged so it was the first thing you saw when you entered the office and included a small seating/meeting area outfitted with a petite sofa and two cube chairs with a small circular table in between them.
Saroya’s office had a modicum of privacy if ever needed. When Felicia mentioned to Rich that a lot of Saroya’s favorite design books and etcetera were missing, he’d waived her concerns off stating she probably took a job or two on the side. Felicia thought nothing else of it. Their firm wasn’t as strict and as others, if they decided to freelance on the side, they were more than welcome to. Rich and Tom were smart enough to know that most of those side customers would become actual clients who just commissioned their preferred designer. On these jobs the designer received an extra bonus outside of their normal commission.
Working side by side as she and Saroya had done for six years, Felicia had a great relationship established with their clients. So things went smoothly when she called all the clients whose projects they were in the midst of and let them know that she’d be filling in, also giving them Jenna’s information as a point of contact. Those that had concerns were promptly laid to rest when Felicia was able to answer and address any and all of their concerns. She may just be an assistant in their eyes. But she has always been an
Elmore Leonard, Dave Barry, Carl Hiaasen, Tananarive Due, Edna Buchanan, Paul Levine, James W. Hall, Brian Antoni, Vicki Hendricks